Russland: Geheimes Raketen-Abkommen mit dem Iran
DIE PRESSE: Medienberichten zufolge hat Russland mit dem Iran die Lieferung von Flugabwehr-Raketen vereinbart. Bisher seien die Raketen aber noch nicht im Iran eingetroffen. Die Lieferung hätte starke Auswirkungen auf das militärische Gleichgewicht in der Region.

Russland hat laut Medienberichten mit dem Iran in einem bisher geheim gehaltenen Abkommen die Lieferung von Flugabwehrraketen vereinbart. Drei russische Nachrichtenagenturen meldeten am Mittwoch unter Berufung auf ein ranghohes Regierungsmitglied, der entsprechende Vertrag sei bereits vor zwei Jahren unterzeichnet worden. Der Iran habe bisher aber keine dieser Raketen erhalten. >>> Ag | Mittwoch, 18. März 2009

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In and Out of Islamism with Maajid Nawaz
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USA warnen Türkei vor Anschlägen der al-Qaida
DIE PRESSE: Einem Zeitungs-Bericht zufolge plant die Terrorgruppe Anschläge auf ausländische Botschaften und auf israelische und US-Flugzeuge. Die Polizei will die Meldung weder bestätigen noch dementieren.

Die US-Sicherheitsbehörden haben die Türkei angeblich vor geplanten Anschlägen des Terrornetzwerkes al-Qaida gewarnt. Eine Gruppe von 15 al-Qaida-Mitgliedern sei in den vergangenen Monaten in die Türkei eingereist. Das hätten die USA den türkischen Behörden mitgeteilt, berichtete die Zeitung "Milliyet" am Mittwoch. Die türkische Polizei wollte den Bericht weder bestätigen noch dementieren. >>> Ag | Mittwoch, 18. März 2009

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Niere an reiche Saudis verkauft – mit fatalen Folgen
TAGES ANZEIGER: Arme Ägypter sind in der Zange von Organhändlern, und es entstand ein grosser Schwarzmarkt für illegale Transplantationen. Aus bitterer Armut verkaufte ein junges Ehepaar aus einem Slum von Kairo seine gesamten Habseligkeiten. Und mehr.

Krank, mutlos, desillusioniert: Abdel Rahman Abdel Asis. Bild dank dem Tages Anzeiger
Als das immer noch nicht reichte, verkauften die beiden je eine ihrer Nieren. Heute sind sie ärmer als je zuvor und dazu schwer krank. Jede Bewegung wird ihnen schon zu viel, so dass sie die meiste Zeit nur noch im Bett verbringen. «Wenn mich jemand über die Gefahren aufgeklärt hätte, hätte ich das nie gemacht», klagt der 24-jährige Abdel Rahman Abdel Asis, der wegen seiner Krankheit viel älter wirkt.

Der Organhandel floriert in Ägypten, wie die Weltgesundheitsorganisation (WHO) unlängst in einem Bericht kritisierte, in dem noch weitere Länder diesbezüglich angeprangert werden. Unter internationalem Druck haben China, Pakistan und die Philippinen ihre Gesetze inzwischen geändert und sowohl den kommerziellen Verkauf von Organen als auch deren Verpflanzung an Ausländer verboten. Dies scheint in Ägypten angesichts eines gesetzlichen Vakuums einen regelrechten Transplantationstourismus ausgelöst zu haben.

Die Empfänger von Organen sind häufig Ausländer, besonders Saudi-Araber. Sie zahlen auf dem Schwarzmarkt umgerechnet gut 12'000 Euro für eine Spenderniere, wie Experten schätzen. Die Spender kommen zumeist aus den Slums von Kairo und erhalten manchmal nur ein Zehntel dieser Summe. Über die Gefahren des Eingriffs werden sie kaum aufgeklärt, und eine medizinische Nachbehandlung wird ihnen nicht zuteil. Sollten also Komplikationen eintreten, sind die Spender, die zumeist keine Krankenversicherung haben, völlig allein gelassen. >>> ap | Mittwoch, 18. März 2009

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Pat Condell: Free Speech Is Sacred

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VTB Mulls Russian Debut on Sukuk Market
REUTERS: MOSCOW - Russia's second largest bank VTB (VTBR.MM) may become the country's first issuer of sukuk or Islamic bonds and is considering a deal worth several million dollars, VTB's investment banking head said on Wednesday.

Russian companies need to be more creative about raising capital as usual sources of funding have dried up in the global credit crunch and around $100 billion of foreign corporate debt payments are due this year. "We are looking at the possibility of entering this market (Islamic finance) -- both for us and for our clients," VTB Capital head Yuri Solovyov told journalists, adding that an issue from VTB could be worth several million dollars.

He declined to name which other Russian companies had expressed interest in such financing.

Globally, $14.9 billion worth of sukuk were issued last year, less than half 2007's issuance, according to Standard & Poor's.

To comply with Islam's ban on interest, sukuk are structured as profit-sharing or rental agreements, and returns are derived from underlying physical assets such as commodities or real estate. Investment, pork, alcohol, gambling and pornography is banned.

To date there have been no Russian issuers of sukuk. >>> © Thomson Reuters 2009 | Wednesday, March 18, 2009

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UK MP Calls for Immigration Limits
THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: Britain should adopt Australian-style limits on immigration in light of the global financial crisis, the UK opposition said on Wednesday.

Opposition immigration spokesman Damian Green said figures showing one in seven pupils in British primary schools does not speak English as a first language illustrated the need to curb immigration.

"These shocking figures illustrate how difficult life is for many teachers because of the government's long-term failure to control immigration," the Conservative Party MP told the Daily Mail.

"They show why we badly need an annual limit on immigration.

"Australia has a limit which it has just reduced because of the recession - Britain should be able to do the same thing. >>> © 2009 AAP | Wednesday, March 18, 2009

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Syria's Assad Praises Obama, Wants Meeting
Photo of Bashar al-Assad courtesy of Reuters
REUTERS: ROME - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said he hoped to meet U.S. President Barack Obama and expressed his willingness to help mediate between the West and Iran.

Assad, in an interview with Italian newspaper La Repubblica published on Wednesday, also confirmed he was ready to resume peace negotiations with Israel but expressed concern about the political climate there.

"With the pullout in Iraq, the will for peace, the closing of Guantanamo, (Obama) has shown himself to be a man of his word," he said, referring to the U.S. naval base in Cuba where hundreds of suspected Islamist militants have been held, most for years without trial.

But Assad said it was too soon to speak of a "historic shift" in U.S. foreign policy.

Asked about meeting Obama, Assad said: "Yes, in principle. It would be a very positive sign. But I'm not looking for a photo opportunity. I want to see him, to talk." >>> Writing by Phil Stewart; Editing by Matthew Jones | Wednesday, March 18, 2009

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Egypt Ready to Forget Lieberman's 'Go to Hell' Remarks
HAARETZ: The Egyptian ambassador to Israel said this week that his country is ready to forget previous threatening statements by Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman, who appears likely to be foreign minister in the incoming Israeli government.

Cairo was particularly incensed by Lieberman's statement several years ago that should Arab countries launch an attack on Israel, Israel would be justified in responding by bombing Egypt's Aswan Dam, among other targets. Egypt was also infuriated by his statement in the Knesset last October that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak "could go to hell."

Yasser Rida, speaking at the Egyptian embassy in Tel Aviv at the beginning of the week, said that Egypt would be ready to cooperate with the new government and would judge it by its actions, rather than by past statements. He added that Egypt would invite Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu to Cairo for an official visit as soon as he takes office. >>> By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent | Wednesday, March 18, 2009

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Jewish Group: Dialogue with Muslims More Urgent Than Ties with Vatican
HAARETZ: A top Jewish umbrella organization in the United States is launching a campaign to initiate dialogue and cooperative efforts with the Muslim community.

The Jewish Council for Public Affairs announced the initiative as part of a bid to shift the focus from the community's recent rapprochement with Pope Benedict XVI. While restoring good ties with the Catholic Church is seen as important, especially following the fallout over the bishop who was reinstated despite his past statements denying the Holocaust.

There is a growing sense among activists and rabbis in the Jewish community that reaching out to American Muslims is a more urgent need than relations with Catholics.

The JCPA says it seeks to foster greater Jewish-Muslim cooperation in promoting civil rights, defending civil liberties, and combating terrorism.

The JCPA also says it seeks to join forces with Muslims to combat anti-Semitism, xenophobia, and anti-Islamic prejudice. >>> By Shlomo Shamir, Haaretz Correspondent | Tuesday, March 17, 2009

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Denmark Moves to Allow Gay Couples to Adopt
THE EARTH TIMES: Copenhagen - A Danish parliament vote allowing same-sex couples to adopt children continued Wednesday to generate reaction from opponents and supporters. The legislation was passed Tuesday by a 63 to 52 vote after six members of the Liberal Party, the main force in the minority government, broke ranks and voted for the proposal.

The government must now draft a bill to be presented to parliament.

The populist Danish People's Party that backs the government was Wednesday critical that six members of Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen's Liberal Party broke file. >>> DPA | Wednesday, March 18, 2009

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Working Paper Presented at the First Business Forum on Islamic Finance in Spain; Focusing on Finance as Bridge between Arab and Western Worlds
AL BAWABA (البوابه): Event is sponsored by the King Abdul-Aziz University and the Spanish IE Business School

Al-Khabeer, a leading sharia’a compliant investment bank that operates in both Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, has been invited to participate as the only private company from the Arab World in the first-ever Business Forum on Islamic Finance, organized by the IE Business School, one of the top ranked business schools in Europe in collaboration with the King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah.

The forum, which is being held today (Wednesday, March 18, 2009) at the IE Business School in Madrid, Spain, is sponsored by Expansion newspaper, the most influential and widely read daily financial Spanish newspaper, and will be attended by a powerful gathering of decision makers from the Spanish and Latin American business communities. Al Khabeer Merchant Finance Corporation in Saudi Arabia and its sister company Al-Khabeer International in Bahrain was invited by its Executive Director Mr. Amar Shata to attend the forum to present a working paper on Islamic finance outside the Islamic world, focusing on its impact in strengthening ties between the Arab and Western Worlds. >>> © 2009 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com) | Wednesday, March 18, 2009

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Sources: US to Sign UN Gay Rights Declaration
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE: Washington (AP) – The Obama administration will endorse a U.N. declaration calling for the worldwide decriminalization of homosexuality that then-President George W. Bush had refused to sign, The Associated Press has learned.

U.S. officials said Tuesday they had notified the declaration's French sponsors that the administration wants to be added as a supporter. The Bush administration was criticized in December when it was the only western government that refused to sign on.

The move was made after an interagency review of the Bush administration's position on the nonbinding document, which was signed by all 27 European Union members as well as Japan, Australia, Mexico and three dozen other countries, the officials said.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because Congress was still being notified of the decision. They said the administration had decided to sign the declaration to demonstrate that the United States supports human rights for all.

"The United States is an outspoken defender of human rights and critic of human rights abuses around the world," said one official.

"As such, we join with the other supporters of this statement and we will continue to remind countries of the importance of respecting the human rights of all people in all appropriate international fora," the official said.

The official added that the United States was concerned about "violence and human rights abuses against gay, lesbian, transsexual and bisexual individuals" and was also "troubled by the criminalization of sexual orientation in many countries." >>> By Matthew Lee, Associated Press Writer | Tuesday, March 17, 2009

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Pjongjang will keine US-Nahrungshilfen mehr: Möglicherweise plant Nordkorea Langstrecken-Raketentest
NZZ Online: Nordkorea will nach Angaben der amerikanischen Regierung keine weiteren Nahrungshilfen aus den USA erhalten. Dies habe die Regierung des ostasiatischen Landes mitgeteilt, eine Begründung habe es nicht begeben, sagte der Sprecher des US-Aussenministeriums.

«Es handelt sich um ein Programm, das als Ziel hat, Lebensmittel zur notleidenden Bevölkerung zu bringen», sagte der Sprecher, Robert Wood, am Mittwoch in Washington weiter.

Die jüngste Ankündigung Nordkoreas, einen eigenen Satelliten zu starten, hatte die Spannungen zwischen beiden Ländern erheblich erhöht. Die USA hatten Nordkorea aufgefordert, auf den geplanten Start zu verzichten, es handle sich um einen «provokativen Akt». Die USA sowie Südkorea und Japan vermuten, in Wirklichkeit wolle Nordkorea eine militärische Langstreckenrakete testen, die theoretisch auch US-Gebiet erreichen könnte. >>> sda/dpa/Reuters | Mittwoch, 18. März 2009

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Une veuve syrienne divise l'Arabie saoudite
LE FIGARO: En condamnant à 40 coups de fouet cette femme de 75 ans, la police religieuse veut montrer son pouvoir au moment où le roi annonce des réformes libérales.

Khamisa Sawadi, une veuve de nationalité syrienne, a été lourdement condamnée : 40 coups de fouets et quatre mois de prison, suivis d'une expulsion définitive d'Arabie saoudite. Son crime : avoir reçu chez elle deux jeunes hommes qui n'appartenaient pas à sa famille directe, en contravention avec les lois en vigueur. Fahd al-Anzi et Hadiyan Bin Zein ont eux aussi écopé d'une peine de prison et de coups de fouet.

Le cas de Khamisa Sawadi, âgée de 75 ans, divise l'Arabie saoudite, au moment où le roi Abdallah vient d'annoncer des réformes libérales. «Encore une histoire absurde», s'indigne Hatoun al-Fassi, professeur à l'université du Roi-Saoud et militante de la cause des femmes. Dans la ville d'al-Shamli, au nord du royaume, les deux jeunes ont été arrêtés au moment où ils sortaient de la maison de Khamisa par la police religieuse, les mutawa, reconnaissables à leur barbe broussailleuse et à leur robe s'arrêtant au mollet.

Les deux «coupables» ont expliqué qu'ils faisaient les courses pour la vieille dame. L'un des deux, Fahd, est en outre le neveu du défunt mari de Khamisa. Mais la charia (la loi islamique), c'est la charia, indique un avocat interrogé par la presse, Me Ibrahim Zamazami. Certes, une femme de 75 ans n'est «habituellement pas considérée comme séduisante, reconnaît l'avocat, mais l'âge n'est pas une raison suffisante pour un acquittement». En revanche, les charges pourraient être rejetées en appel si Khamisa a bien été la nourrice de Fahd, comme celui-ci l'affirme, ce qui ferait de lui l'équivalent du fils de la vieille dame. >>> Pierre Prier | Mardi 17 Mars 2009

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Hamid Karzai Warns World Leaders Not to Interfere in Afghanistan Government
THE GUARDIAN: President tells foreign partners to respect his country's independence

The Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, today warned the international community not to meddle in the government of his country as it prepares to go to the polls for presidential elections this summer.

Speaking alongside the Nato secretary general, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, at a news conference in Kabul, Karzai said the government's foreign partners should respect his country's independence.

"Afghanistan … will never be a puppet state," he said.

The president faces a battle for re-election in August, with Afghanistan embroiled in a Taliban-led insurgency and his government being criticised by the US and other nations as inefficient and corrupt.

As the new US administration shifts the focus from Iraq to Afghanistan, the US president, Barack Obama, has also ordered a review of strategy in the region.

The results of the review are expected to be revealed later this month.

In response to the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, Obama has sent thousands of extra troops to the country's south – the Taliban's heartland – and urged Nato allies to do more. >>> Associated Press | Wednesday, March 18, 2009

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Jobless Total Rockets to Two Million
TIMESONLINE: The number of people signing on for jobless benefits jumped at the fastest rate since 1971 last month as the number of people out of work rose to more than two million, the highest level since Labour came to power in 1997, official figures show.

The number of people claiming jobless benefits rose by a record 138,400 last month, taking the total number in dole queues to 1.39 million, figures from the Office for National Statistics show.

The wider survey-based measure of unemployment showed that the number of people out of work jumped by 165,000 in the three months to January, to 2.03 million, the highest level since Tony Blair became Prime Minister.

Some City economists forecast that unemployment is set to spiral much higher, to about 3.3 million, levels not seen even during the 1980s recession.

Sterling fell to fresh seven-week low against the euro of 93.96 pence, while the pound hit a session low against the dollar at $1.3848 as investors digested the bleak figures. >>> Grainne Gilmore | Wednesday, March 18, 2009

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Simon Heffer: President Barack Obama: Perhaps He Can't Fix It...

THE TELEGRAPH: President Obama has been in power for just over 50 days, but already critics believe his plans to save America from disaster are doomed

Photo by Reuters courtesy of The Telegraph
Even in the worst economic crisis since the 1930s, New York knows how to throw a party. For most of yesterday hundreds of thousands of people made a sea of green that paraded up Fifth Avenue to mark St Patrick’s Day. Tens of thousands lined the street to watch them. The all-day party, fuelled by imports of Guinness and whiskey, seemed the more intensely engaged upon as an escape from omnipresent financial gloom.

Away from the party, the mood in America’s cultural and business capital is more firmly anchored in stark reality, and quite different from the euphoria that pervaded it when I was last here, on election day. President Obama still enjoys the popularity that comes with not being George Bush, especially in a city top-heavy with Democrats. But his initial response to the global calamity that he found on entering the Oval Office has not inspired popularity’s more sober elder brother, confidence. Large constituencies, notably business, are voicing their scepticism openly. The President’s much-vaunted $787 billion stimulus package is being widely interpreted, even by some of those (such as Warren Buffett, America’s second-richest man) who openly supported Mr Obama for the presidency, as a serious failure. And we are only just past the first 50 days.

Mr Obama is lucky that his Republican opponents in Congress are disorganised, incoherent and without ideas of their own. The White House branded Rush Limbaugh, the populist talk radio host, leader of the opposition, following an assault Limbaugh had made on the President’s neo-socialist policies. This remark was designed not just to humiliate elected Republicans for their impotence, but also to attempt to terrify the American public at the thought of a man widely seen as a demagogue and an extremist leading a main political movement. It should worry Mr Obama that while the former part of the strategy has hit home, the latter hasn’t. >>> Simon Heffer | Wednesday, March 18, 2009

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Partagez le dîner donné en l'honneur du président libanais

GALA.fr: Venu spécialement de Beyrouth, Michel Sleimane a entamé lundi un séjour officiel dans notre charmant pays. Pour cette première visite d'un chef d'Etat arabe depuis l'élection du Président la République, pas question pour le couple Sarkozy de recevoir entre deux portes du Château. Dorures, VIP, et Grand Croix de la Légion d'honneur étaient donc de la partie.

Arrivés dans l'après-midi à Paris, le Général et son épouse Wafaa ont été immédiatement escorté en grande pompe par un détachement à cheval de la Garde républicaine jusqu'à leurs quartiers de l'hôtel de Marigny. Après un repos bien mérité, les invités libanais ont retrouvé Nicolas et Carlita sur le perron de l’Elysée. Fourreau de velours noir pour Madame, smocking et nœud-pap’ assortis pour Monsieur, les hôtes français ont ensuite orchestré un véritable défilé de stars politiques. Qui a eu la chance d’assister à cette réception de prestige? Qui a osé la robe fendue jusqu’à l’indécence? Qui a préféré rivaliser d’élégance avec notre First Lady?

Regardez les clichés inédits de cette soirée d’exception. Et découvrez les célébrités du gouvernement sous un autre jour. Sexy et ultra glamour!

Par Justine Boivin
Mardi 17 mars 2009

Bienvenue chez les Sarkozy! >>>

BS from Obama: O'bama? Barack Reveals Irish Roots
US President Obama revealed to the Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowan that one of his distant relations came from the same county in Ireland.

Mr Obama was speaking at the the Shamrock Ceremony at the White House to celebrate St Patrick's Day. >>> | Tuesday, March 17, 2009
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